PAUL Scholes has been the scourge of Manchester City at Old Trafford in the last year.

So what better time for the Salfordian Red to end his 19-game goal drought?

Scholes scored in all three derbies last season and Kevin Keegan, who benefited from the midfielder's scoring when he was England boss, will know that a sudden switch in his goalscoring fortunes is around the corner.

Scholes, who'll celebrate his 30th birthday nine days after the game, set United on the road to victory at Old Trafford last December.

He opened the goal account in the seventh minute and then sealed it with United's third in the 3-1 win.

In February he once again set the ball rolling for the Reds with a 34th-minute Old Trafford breakthrough in the FA Cup fifth round derby.

Lifeline

Even in the humiliating 4-1 City of Manchester league reverse in March it was Scholes who offered a potential lifeline at 2-0 down.

He hasn't scored in the Premiership since and his last goal was the FA Cup semi winner at Villa Park against Arsenal.

So a return to goalscoring form on Sunday would be timely for a local lad who has proved so influential when the two Manchester rivals are pitched in together.

Of all the stats surrounding United's Premiership goalscoring demise this term none could be more damaging than Scholes' blank output in the league since his strike at Eastlands nine months ago.

With four-goal Euro hero Ruud van Nistelrooy back on the banned list for one further game getting Scholes back into the scoring groove could be vital.

While United's attack has come under the microscope this term their revived defence have quietly got on with a sound job.

And after the calamities of the City of Manchester drubbing, United fans will feel a lot more comfortable now as Sir Alex Ferguson's first-choice back division look set to cope with the electric pace and elusiveness of Nicolas Anelka and Shaun Wright Phillips.

Anelka wasn't even playing last March but even then, the less pacey Jon Macken and Robbie Fowler managed to leave United's defence a jittery mess.

Mikael Silvestre is the only player on that day likely to remain in Fergie's back five unless the virus that struck him down against Sparta lingers on.

Tim Howard, Phil Neville, Wes Brown and John O'Shea are clearly no longer in Ferguson's nominated best defence when everyone is fit.

With Roy Carroll on song, Gary Neville, Gabriel Heinze, Silvestre and Rio Ferdinand, United fans can feel considerably more comfortable.

Positive

Hopefully, United will finally be able to react positively to an impressive European result and not slip back into the lacklustre mode that has dogged their Premiership campaign.

City haven't won at Old Trafford since Denis Law's back-heel sealed United's relegation fate in 1974.

And if the United side who beat Arsenal and Liverpool turn up on Sunday then the Blues will be waiting another year to triumph in Stretford.

But that man Scholes returning to scoring form against the Blues? It's got to be the headline story for Monday morning.

Can you see Scholes finding his scoring boots for the derby? have your say